Apparatus for the control of highway crossing signals



H. c. VANTASSEL 2,328,180

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNALS Filed June 25, 1942 d y M M r m. "o N n r m a T N V. A C m b w a H mmmfi fiwmw b Q QQ ANN m ENQENBM wm b S 4 E Nu fil l NmU WWW N i T m fi l 1 xfimfiNm NQQBQQEN UQK NBN QQ AI QQ QQ AME Eng wail m Raw A m w Hm 1 S O H i O Aug. 31, 1943.

2,328,180- V I" errn niifr'osron Tnn-conrnor. 10F .JIIGHWAY ea smesremrs Harry 1C. Yanta ssle l, Sv vissvale,

The Union Switch & Signal ts ass cno' C any, Swisshighway crossin i na s w ens t in recedi and-right,respectively, of the intersection, and

each section AT andb'l is oi a length suflicient l t6 we et jj l'm eed rn n per qd o sis.- i 5118 P ior t i'fi a rival Qt a. t ainat t e inter:

sectioriwhen such-train approaches the intersection alt-the maximum permissible speed. SectionsAT, BT and 'CT are each provided-with a trackcir cuit including arcnrrent source, such, as

a battery 2 connected across the rails at one end from the intersection reverses its moye nentand 5 of the section and a track relay R witha prefix approachesthe intersection. p V cgrresporidingh to fltlhe segtiofnt 1 connetcited' :across 4. railway track which intersects a highway at t, e rails at-t e o er en 0 e sec on.

ade s u ually formed with control track sec- According to my invention, two track instrutions on each side of the intersections andtrain ments XAand "X0 are vprovided, track instrumovements in such sections govern highway ment XA being located at a preselected point crossin signals located at the intersection; along section AT and track. instrument XC being Directional means is provided in the control aplocated at a preselected point alorg' ssect'ion paratus to avoidoperation of the highway cross- These track instruments XA and Care of e 1 18 signals when a train recedes from the interdirectional type, and. their. constructionmay be section. lSuch controlfapparatus as heretofore any one of"v several well-known arrangements pm ided doesnot ordinarily operate the signal wherewith a contact-is Iactuated only whein a it a 'train reverses its receding movementvand i H train passes :over the tree instrumen 'nia 8 yet:

approaches the intersection with the resultthat direction; and such contact is' not actuated bya highway users may. receive no warningiot such train moyin'g in the opposite direction. Track app oaching train. 20 instruments "XA and -XC are shown conven- Afeature of my invention is theprovision tionallylsi'nce their specific" construction forms of novelwand improved control apparatus for no part of my invention, audit is sufllcient for highwaycrossing signals for operating the sigthe present"applicationfto" point opt that track nals when a train reverses its receding rnove instrument XA is located adjacent a rail ata ment and approaches the intersection; g preseleqted point along section 'AT; andis dis- Qt a ees m nv V posed -f0l' it's normally closed contact} t be tion willapear as the specification progresses V t t t a open. 31 m'y whenrgnxeagts 1 shall m fi t m? t u d @fimgg lt We moviesem le t bodying my invention, and shall then point out t right s viewed in the-drawing,- pglsseksy the novel featuresthereof in claims. v 0 the m instrumentrbut that contactyrvemaips The em dmwmg is d f vr I closed whens westbound train,--that"is,fatrain view show ng one form of apparatus embodying 7 ov ffmirighfi toolkit asvigwed the draw m m i i p j in g pa ss es over thetrack i stru ent; fiimilarlm. ,Referrin to the drawing, the referencechartrack instrumentoxc is locatednadJ-agfint a ran actors. la and lb designate the track rails of a pfeliec'ted point along sigcfiqnflcrlandjs I railway track over which traflic moves in either disposedjfor its normally bids-gidcb'ntact L150 direct-ion and which track is intersected at ra be actuated to an open position only when a by a highway cmssmg signal tbound tram asses over thetrack instru; being located at theintersection. Signal S may Wes p i r e p be an audible signal a visual signal agate a 40 ment but that pontact 4 f:'? he Y b an eastbound train] passes th s instrument. .arrier ora combinat on of such devices as de Th h t t t A d sired, and for simplicity signal S isdisclosed as i ,9 t 1 3 ms m Pn anhudible jsignal in the form of an electric bell. Xc n P e y by j m The'track rails In and lb are formed by the t tt ft m fi {ma hi WW. 5 usual msmatedir'an joint with e track sec: t ?!edle ee u eqh eek ins r me a s! tions A'nB'r and CT; the intermediate sectio X iql l v t ai? e d s twnvm wh ch, the B'I including the" intersection-with the highway l- 3 3 7 8; the traci; instrument to actuate preferably extending onlya short distance l q r im v to "eschews of the highway? Sections ATand T fiffl k relays of the tracl; section ang the i -are c bl section's te din to t e le We track i rumen s XA ndXC e nt rn the ere ionf i i nal s through. h medium of e a o tr e ay. KB- fen two di ct on means one 0f which'iinq sies aninterlo k ns rel y. IR and s he other of. wh chii c udes two stick rel ys ASE and CSR, relay ASR. being associated with eastbound traific, and relay CSR being associated with Westbound trafiic.

Normally, that is, when the track sections are unoccupied and the respective track relays are picked up; both magnets ATP and CTP of interlocking relay IR, both stick relays ASR and CSR tively, and winding of magnet ATP to terminal;

C; and the other magnet CTP of the interlocking relay receives current from, terminal B through front contacts 7 and 8 of track lrelays CTR and BTR, respectively, and winding of magnet CTP to terminal C. Directional stick relay ASR normally receives current through its pickup and stick circuits in multiple, the pick-up circuit includin terminal B, normally closed contact 30f trackinstrument'XA, front contact 8 of ina'gnet 'ATP' of the interlocking relay and winding of relay ASR to terminalC; and the stick circuit being the same as the pick-up circuit except his completedaround. front contact 9 of magnet ATP through front contact ID of relay ASR. Similarly,'directional stickrelay CSR normally receives current through its pick-up and stick circuits in multiple, its pick-up circuit extending from terminal 13 through contact 4 of'track instrument XC, front contact H of magnet CTP ofltheinterlocking relay and winding of relay CSR toterminal C; and its stick circuit being the same as its'pick-up circuit except it icy-passes the front contact H of magnet CTP through front contact l2 of-relay CSR. Control relay 2m isrnorm all energized by current supplied from terminal? through flagman contacts I3 and Id of magnets A'IPuand CTP, respectively, of the interlocking relay frontfcontacts ifi' and it of stick relays;ASR "and CSR, respectively, and winding of relay XR to vterminal C. Relay XR controls-at its back contact ll an obvious oper-' ating circuit for signals andit is'clear thatsignal S is normally silentbut is operated to sound a warning whenever relay XR is released.

thecircuit for control relay XR- and that relay .is-fdeenergized and, released to close its back conta'ctgi'l so'that signals is operated to sound a warning. The opening of front contact 9 of mag net'ATP opens the pick-upcircuit for stick 'relay ASR but relay ASR is retained energized b its stick circuit." Whenthis eastbound train has advanced; in section AT far enough for its leading vehicle to reach the location of track instrument XA, the track instrument XA is actuated to open contact 3 and stick relay ASR is. deenergized and releases to open its front contacts II] and I5 and to close its back contact 58. front contact [5 opens' the circuit for the control relay XR at a second point. The closing of back contact l8 completed an alternative circuit for magnet ATP and current flows from terminal l3 through'back contact E8 of relay ASR, back contact IQ of track relay ATR, front contact '8 of track relay BTR and winding of magnet ATPto terminal C. so that magnet ATP is reenergized The opening of and picked up to'close' its fiagman Contact i3 and front contact 9. The closing of fiagman contact l3 closes one point in the circuit for control relay XR, but relay XR remain deenergized due to front contact iii of relay ASR. being open and consequently operation of signal S is not interrupted. The closing of front contact 9 of magnet ATP closesone point in the pick-up circuit of relay ASR, but relay ASR receives no current because contact 3 of track instrument XA re- ''mains open as long as the train is passing over it.

3 to close before the leading vehicle of the train enters section 'BT, stick relay ASR is picked up over its pick-up circuit. The picking up of relay ,tion of signal S.

ASR to open back contact l8 deenergizes magnet ATP, and that magnet is again released to its full down position where both contacts 9 and I3 are open, stick relay ASR being now retained energized through itsstick circuit. 7 The control relay XR would be momentarily energized 'between the picking up of relay ASR and the release'fof magnet ATP because magnet ATP is preferably made slightly sloW to release. However, control relay XR is provided with a slow pick-up period sufficiently long that relay XR is not picked. up before magnet ATP is released and hence there is no interruption in the opera- When this eastbound train enters section BT to shunt track relay BTR, that relay is released to open both front contacts 6 and 8. The opening of front contact 6 of relay BTR opens the circuit for magnet ATP at a second point, magnet ATP having previously been released in the manner described above. The opening of front contact 8.0f track relay BTR opens the circuit forthe second magnet CTP of the interlocking relay and magnet CTP is deenergized and released to the interlocked posi tion where its frontcontact ll is open but'its flagman contact It remains closed. The opening offront contact ll of magnet CTP opensthe pick-up circuit for stick .relay CSR but relay CSR is retained energized over its stick circuit.

V Assurningthat an eastbound train approaches When thiseastbound train enters section CT in receding from the intersection, the track relay CTR is shunted and releases to open at its front contact lithe circuit for'magnet CTP'at a second point. Whenthe rear of this eastbound train vacatessection AT, track relay ATR 'is reenergized and picked up and when this train passes beyond the intersection and vacates section BT track relay BTR is reenergized and. picked up to close the circuit. for magnet ATP and that magnet is energizedand picked up to close/its contacts l3 and 9. With the closing of flagman contact l3 of magnetATP, the circuit-for control relay XRis closed and that relay is energized and'pickd up to discontinuethe operation of signal Sf This eastbound trainpasses track instrument XC without actuating the instrument andhence stick relay CSR remains closed as the train recedes from the intersection. When this train Vacates section CT track relay CTR an in turn magnet CTP are reenergized.

Should this eastbound train while receding from the intersection through section CT and after some portion of the train at least has'moved s beyond track instrument XQ'stop and reverse its movement to approach the intersection, the

assent tact it deen'ergizes the cohtrolreiay-XRTaiid that relay releases to cause tpe' upsior signal IS.

7 With relay CSR. messed magnet-receives current through its alternative circuit including back "contact -29 ofrelay CSR' and-hack" contact an or track relay with -the re'sult tha ,ma h Bnt C'IPi's energiz'e'd andpickedup, the inter-'- locking feature of relay IR-being-releaSed*becauseboth magnetsA'I'Pand CTP-are now picked up. "Operation of signals is continued, however,

tactgl is closedand relay CSR. is *reen'ergized through its pick-up circuit. The-pick-up'of relay co'ntactwlfi, and opens the alternative circuit for magnet CTP atvback contact 20; Magnet CTP anew deenergized andreleases to its full down position to open the circuit for relay KR at fiag man c'ontact M. Although relay XR receives energy during the slow release periodof magnet,

CTP; the slow pick-upperiod of relay XR. is sufficient to prevent its picking up before magnet CTPiis released and operation of signal S is continuedwithout interruptiona With magnet CT]? of relayIRreleased to its full down position, the operation of signal Sis continued until this east bqundtrain that has reversed its movement in Section CT;passes to the west beyond the inter-c fsection to vacate section BT. Furthermore, magnet-A'I'R is heldat the interlocked position and operation of signal S is discontinued if this train continues its westward movement through section A T. l t Assuming that the apparatus is in its normal condition and a relatively long eastbound train approaches the intersection, the operation of the apparatuspis the same as previously described up to the point where the track instrument XA' is.

actuatedtooph contact Stand deenergize stick relay ASR to closgits-Ibackcontact. 18 so that -magnet ATP is reenergized and picked up The head end of this relatively long eastbound train will enter section BT and shunt track relay BTRv beforethe rear of the :train has passedtrack instrument XA to permit contact Itareclose and reenergize relay ASR, to in turn deenergize magnet ATP; Thus relay B'I'R. is released by this 1 train at a time both magnets 'ATP and .CTP of the interlocking relay are pickedtup an d the two magnets are simultaneously deenergized and re-l leased. "Ihe interlocking feature ofrelay IR is arranged so thatswhen both itsmagnetsiare simultaneously released, the armaturewof each magnet drops only to the. interlocked position wherein flagman contacts IS-and M are retained closed but front' contacts 9 and II are open.

Hencestick relaylASR is not at once reenergized and picked up when the rear of vthis relatively.

long eastbound train passes beyond trackinstrument XA, andwithrelayASR released control relay XR remains deenergized causingoperation of signal S. When this train vacates section A1 and then section BTso that both track relays 'ATR and B'I'R are picked up; magnet ATP is reenergized to close front contact 9 with the result that stick relay A SRis then reenergized and picked up; The circuit'of control relay XR is'now closed and thus operation of the signal S is discontinued when this relatively long train passes beyond the intersection-and vacates section BT. If this train stops in the section CT and reverses its movement to approach the intersection, the

track instrument X i actuated to open contact land deenergizes'ticki elay to cause operation of the signal in the manner explained hereatih of si n S- a It ii p a f m "t e tqre oiha e c iibh of t e "h i h f h a pa at r e t 'q ha we t i h a ih'a hi hh o h rew,- 20

ihihh r h west qh tt a h n h hp hs. re i c os d ha the ha shfages hat he a iqhj f a i wa ga n si al when a recedingtrain reverses its movement is accomplished with relatively imple and inexpensive 'rneans and added track sections with "expem V :15' XR' would re i am released to continue the oper- CSR closes: the circuit for relayjXR at front' l are avoided.

but one form ofapparatus for ta -jetsam of highway crossing signals embodying my invention it is understood that various changes and modificationsmaybe made therein within the scopeof the appended claims withoutdeparting frern the spirit and scope of my invention;

Hh hg th laim i "1- lh hhh hihet wi a iehya c ssin s haue te ht he m e 'sj tihh of ahi'ghwar a e a railway track, a track section disposed to one sldejfoi the intersection and. provided with a track circuit includingfla track relay, [operating eans controlled by 'saidtiaiikirly to op rate the signal when a train occupies the section, train governed means controlled by a train appreaching the intersection on the side opposite that of said track section to operate said signal 'and to w 50.15am 9P t" section iii cans as this train occupies said ding irom' .the'ihtrsectidn, a directional tr actuated Inea'rislocated 'at a preselected pointwithin'said section and actuated only by a, trainlinoviiig in the direction to appreach the intersection, and means governed by h hd ht sham ma a a v n 2. In'coxnbination with ahighway crossing sigpnal located at theintersection of a highway and deh th te s s h ahs ov d i h a track circuit including a track relay, operatingmeans controlled bysaid track relay to operate the sig? nal whena train occupies the section,'traingov track section to operate said signal and to remove 'said t'rack relay-from control of said oper+ ating means as this train occupies said section in receding from the intersection, a track instrument located at a'preselected point along said,

section and having a contact which is actuated n r iz d aha release? 1 t h heh h h bhk' contact I8- of relay ASR, and consequently relay hat h abbarath' flw l hh h e ih a simila sive subsection equipment foroperating the signal as described my invention, w at move track relay' from control of samurrectm a tram actuated means to control] said operating means to operate said signal indea railway track, a track section disposed to one erned means controlled by a trainapproaching. the intersection on the side opposite that ofsaid j l 3." In combination with a. w 7 signallocated at the intersectionof a highway i se m was c r l, se dv means to operate vsaidsignal.

anda railway track, a tracksection disposed to one sideoi the intersection and provided with a track circuit including a track relay, another re-' lay, a stick relay, a-directional u train actuated device located at a preselected pointalong said sectionand having a contact which'is actuated only by a train moving in the direction ,to appreach the intersection, a first circuit includcontact of said stick relay to energize said other relay, a pick-up circuit including said contact of said train actuated deviceand'a front contact of'said other relay to energize said stick relay, a stick circuit to energize'said stick relay and in eluding said contact of thetrain actuated device, operating means controlled by said other relay and said stick relay to operatesaid signal when either said other relay or said stick relay is released, 'and;direct'ional means governed by a train approaching the intersection on the side opposite said track section to operate said signal and to remove said other relay from control of said operating means as this train recedes from the intersections a 4. In combination with a highway crossing signal located at the intersection of a highway and a railway ,track a track section disposed to one side of the intersectionand provided with a track circuit including a track relay, another highway crossing ing 'a front contact of said track-relay to en- 7 ergize said other relay, a second circuit including a back contact of said track relay and a back by said track relay to operate said signal when said train actuated device and a front contact of said other relayjtoienergi'zesaid stick relay, a stick circuit to energize said stick relay and including said contact of the train actuated device, a control relay, a controlcircuit including in series a front conta'ctof said other relay and a front contact of saidstick relay to energize said control relay, an operating circuit including a 'back contact of said control relay to operate by said track relays to operatesaid signal when" a train occupieseither one of said sections in approaching the intersection and to discontinue such pera ion when thef ra p s either sectionfin receding from theintersection, two

directional track instruments one located ,at a

'preselected pointwithin ;each of said sections,

and means controlled by each of'said directional track instruments to operate said; signal inde- V pendent of said directional. relay meansfor op: erating the signal when a receding train reverses its movement and approaches the intersection.

6. In combination with a highway crossing signal located at the intersection ofjahighway and a railway track, two track sections extending in oppositedirections, from the intersection and each provided with a track circuit including a track relay, directional relay means controlled a train occupies either one of said sectio'ns in approaching'the intersectionand to discontinue such operation when the train occupies either section in' receding fromsthe intersection, two

directional track'instr uments one located at a preselected point alongxonei of said track sec tions and the other located at a preselected point along the other one of said track sections, each V of said track instruments provided with anore mally closed contact and disposed to be actuated to open its contacts onlyby a train approaching the intersection, a directional stick relay for each said track instrument, each said stick relay provided with a pick-up circuit including a contact of the associated instrument and a contact controlled by the track relay of the associated track section and with a stick 'cir'cuitincluding' acontact of the associated instrument, and means controlled by each of'said stick relays to operate its magnets energized through a front contact of one of said track relays andits other magnet energized through a front contact of the other one of said track relays, two directional track instruments one located along oneof said track sections and the other located along theother one of said tracksectionaeach said track instrument disposed to be actuated to open its normally closed contact only by a train approaching the intersection, a directional stick relay. for each said track instruments, each said stickrelay provided with a pick-up circuit including the contact of the:associated instrument and a frontcontact of the interlocking relay magnet asso ciated with the same sectionand with a stick circuit including the contact of the associated instrument, an alternative circuit for each of said magnets and including in'series aback contact of the respective track relay and a back contact of the associated stick relay, a control relay energized by a circuit including in series a flagman contact of each of saidinterlocking relay magnetsand a front contact of each of said stick relays, and an operating circuit controlled by said control relay to operate said signal.

HARRY 'c. VANTASSEL. 

